Protective apparatus for switchboards and the like.



- W. KAISLING. v

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR SWITGHBOARES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED qoma, 190s.

"904,4 86. Patentd Nov. 17, 1908 Zhanemaf I fnw nf on' 4 Jhlzz'am Kwlmy ciifi f T. H 4

' of Illinois, have invented certain new and ratus for Switchboards and the Like, of

i ness of such instruments, this invention hav- "'20 coil or thermal arresters for this purpose, many of which, While accomplishing the objectforwhich they are intended, are objectionable on account of a more or less complex construction, and because, in most I f-for further useful work;

dissipating foreign cuguwgtuts of low potent1a'l,'wh1ch are known as sneak currents be made the subject of considerable manipvent'ion isthe' production of a s1mple,-efiicient and substantially indestructible heatmere reversal ofthe coil putting the device 40 connections, preferably provided with the circuit against lightning and other high p0- when a-certain fixed maximum of intensity such as solder, some forms of which flow readily at a comparative'l low temperature which .has'serreatc bind together twomembers, one ofTw-hich is under spring-f 'unrr WILLIAM KAISLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR ILLIN TO FRANK B. COOK, OF CHICAGO, 018.

Application filed October 5, 1903. Serial No. 175,788.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM Kaisrnno, a citizen "of the United States, residing at Chicago' in the county of Cook and State useful Improvements in Protective Appawhich'the following is a specification.

'TlllS invention relates to dBVlCGSlO guard are various sources and kinds of abnormal currents, the action of which may temporarily or permanently destroy the usefuling to do only with means for arresting and There are many forms of so-called heat instances, they are self-destructive in operation-and useless thereafter, or, at best, must ulation or repair to put them in condition 'The, particular object .of the present incoil or thermal arrester, which may be said to be self {repairing after operation, the

again in condition to fulfill its function. This invention contemplates thg usual line and switchboard circuits, with any usual usual means for protecting the switchboardte'ntial charges or discharges, each line branch of sa d circuit including a coil or other resistance adapted to become heated or stren th of current flows therethrough, the heat. eing utilizedto fuse some metal,-

Specification of Letters Patent.

'current, which has been or may to open sai Patented Nov.'17, 1908.

pressure and which, when released by the melting of the solder, is capable of movement with relation to the other or supporting member to open the circuit and ground the same to dissipate the foreign become the cause of trouble. I This invention seeks to avoiddisadvantages usually. attendant upon the melting of the solder in other devices of this class, which, in some forms, permits of a complete separationbftl e members or,-possibly, a partial destruction of the deuce, rendering it useless until replaced or repaired. My invention further contemplates, therefore, a construction and arrangement which obviates the'necessity of repairing or substitu-' tion, and onein which the line circuit is opened not in the coil but exterior thereofand by mechanical means. v

lVith these and other ends in view, the in vention consists, generally, in an electric circuit having one or more interposed conductors each comprising a resistance in close proximity to an insulated supporting mem her to which is normally secured by fusible material a springpressed operating member, the latter being adaptedupon its release to engage or imcpinge against a spring contact circuit and, preferably, to ground the same. 1

My invention further consists in means for making my protective device reversible and again operable without repairing.

My invention further consists in the novel. means for opening the line circuit and simultaneously a. secondary or .alarm circuit. And my invention further consists in the various other details of construction, location, arrangement, electrical connection and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the 3 claims.

My invention will be more readily under-j stood .by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica tion, and in which .Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of a'device embodying my invention. Fig. 2

is a top plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is air enlarged central section of one of the coils and its supports. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof.

{Referring now to the drawings indetail,

numeralfz refers to a portions?aheelongatedl through whichthe wires 'enterin a telephone insu .;1ightning arrester WhlCll forms no part of the of the heads '18 and 18 .C,' are designed to beconstantly under separated by suitable strips of insulation 6,

- supports 6 and is in spring-pressed contact plate or bar which usually forms' alpart of the framework of the distributmg fframe central ofiice are connected 'be oref the circuits terminate at the switchboard, or'it may be a part of-a terminal heador some-a paratus'on ,which protective devices are a apted to be mounted. "Suitably'attached to the plate or bar 2 are-the grounding plates 3, carrying the carbons 4 and the interposed ating substance 5, a common form of resent invention. ounted upon the plate 2, supported and are two sets or series of spring terminals, conductor-supports or'contacts, which include the terminals 7 and 8 on one side of said 'platefor the line wires a and I), respective'ly, and the terminals 9 and 10 on the other sideof said plate for the switchboard wires 6 and d, respectively. The terminal 7 extends through said insulating with the strip 11, between which and-the strip 12 the coil C is removably mountedfiis hereinafter described. A conductor 13 connects the strip 12 with'the terminal 9 for the wire 6 to the switchboard.

The terminal 8 for the line wire I) is electrically connected through the conductor 14 with the spring conductor 15, similar in allother respects to the extension 7 of the terminal 7 normally contacting with the I insulated strip 16, between which and the extension 10 of the terminal 10 for the switchboard wire (1 the coil C is similarly mounted. I

As illustrated in the drawings, each of the coils C and C may comprise a preferably copper spool 17 supported between two heads 18 and 18', of insulating material, surmounted at each end by the preferably brass caps 19 and 19. A suitable coil of insulated-wire 20 about the spool 17 connects the two caps 19 and 19', which preferably embrace the cylindrical insulating casing 21. Extending centrally through the whole coil and projecting beyond the heads 18 and 18 at each end is a preferably brass pin 22 which is soldered in operative position to and within the spool 17 with what isknown as easy flowing solder, or solder'which will fuse at from 160 to 170, F ahrenhcit. It will be noticed that rojections 23 and 23' through the cap's19--- and 19 and the supporting strips protect the pin 22 at both ends from contact with said supporting strips, which are, however, in electrical contact with said caps 19 and 19'.

The pins 22, in boththe coil C and, the coil spring pressure, which or insulated spring tively. In

I provide 5 means strips 2 t and -25,respe,c- Fig. 1 I have shown the'relative' positions of pin and coil, for the coil C prior to and for the coil C after operation, in the coil C, the pin being withheld against movement under. action of the fusible material which joins pin and spool. Upon release ofsaid pin, as hereinafter dc scribed, it is capable of a limited longitudinal movement through said spool and coil, said movement being, checked at a point where the lengths of projections at opposite ends have been reversed, whereby, pin and spool becoming reunited through cooling of the solder, the entire coil may be removed for a repetition of the operation.

Proceedin now to trace the circuits, it will be note that the current from the line wire a will enter through the terminal 7, passing, successively, through the spring extension 7' thereof, the insulated strip 11, the ca 19 of the coil C, the resistance coil 20, thd cap 19 the strip 12, the connecting conductor .13, the terminal 9 and the wire 6 to the switchboard; returning through the wire d, the terminal 10, the extension 10 thereof, the coil 0 in a similar manner, the insulated strip 16, the spring contact strip 15when the pin 22 of the coil C is in its normal position (as indicated in Fig. 1 for spring by the' the coil C), in which position the strip 15. is

in contact with the insulatedstrip l6-the conductor 14', and the terminal 8 to the other line wire I). I Under ordinary conditions, and with the ordinary currents which the device is adapted to handle, the normal adjustment of the coil and pin is not effected. Abnormal currents, not rovided for by the usual fuses and the lig tning arrester, will heat the resistance coil 20 and consequently the spool 17, and will, in from twenty-five to thirty seconds, fuseathe' solder which unites the pin and spool, permitting of afree longitudinal movement of said pin within sa1d spool. The pin being constantly under spring pressure through the spring conductor 24 (or 25 for the 0011 C), said spring will, immediately upon release of said in, overcome the lesser spring pressure of tie spring contact 7, breaking the circuit exterior of the coil 0 and grounding said strip 7 through the extension plate 3 and the bar 2, as is shown in that portion of Fig. 1 illustrating the relative positions of the pin in the coil C. It will broken, the heated spool 17 will quickly cool andthe solder again harden and unite pinand'spool, the. channel between pinand spool be apparent that when this circuit is beingvso small that capillary attraction will revent the escape of the molten solder. he length of this pin is such that the portion wh ch projects out of the head of the coil at one end, in its normal condition, is the same as theother end of the coil after operation thereof;

,Therefore, when the spool has the length of the projection at cooled and the solder again hardened to join the two n'iembers, it is only necessary to remove, reverse and replace the coil, when it is again ready to serve its function. To facilitate removal and reversal of the coil. I haveshown, as best illustrated in Fig. t, the

" supportingfstrip 12' (or for the other coil) slotted at its extremity, and the strip "11 (or 16 for the opposite coil) provided with a somewhat elongated aperture.

I may further equip my device, if I desire, with any usual form of alarm or signal, which may comprise, for the purposes of this description, a vibrating bell in circuit with a battery 27., or other source of electric energy, between the contact strip and the ground 'wiref, whereby, upon grounding of the contact- 15, a circu t 1s closed from the ground through the wire f, the bell-operat- .20

mg magnet-s, the battery 27, the spring conductor 25, .the pin 22 within the coil C, the

"spring contact the extension plate 3, and

the bar Q-to the ground. It is thus apparent thatthe same operation which opens and grounds the primary or main circuit, simultaneously closes the secondary or alarm circuit, ringing the bell or operating other form of signal to notify the attendant in charge of the presence of the foreign current.

- The function of the insulated coil of wire 20 around the spool 17 is, obviously, to provide a known resistance which will generate the heat necessaryto melt the solder and pernr'ntof the free movement of the pin 22 *within. said spool, I do not desire to he desire to limit my invention to the specific construction"herein shbwn and described.

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A heat coil arr-ester having a body and a circuit breaker operating member 'extend-' ment of the body and the circuit breaking member under the influence of undue'heatwhereby the device is reversible after each operation thereof.

3. A thermal arrester having a resistance, a supporting member, and a circuit breaker operating member normally secured by fusible material to said supporting member, the whole being inclosed within a suitable casing shorter than the said operating member, the ends of the latter alternately projecting therefrom after successive operations, whereby the device is reversible.

a. In an electric system, a circuit and a reversible heat-coil arrester comprising a heating clement connected in the circuit and a circuit controlling element extending -through, longer than, and under the control of the heating element, but itself external tothe circuit.

In combination, an electric circuit and a removable heat-coil arrester having the circuit-breaker operating member exterior of said circuit and extending completely through said coil and its casing, whereby the device is reversible after each operation thereof.

6. The combination, with a main circuit and a secondary alarm .circuit ofa heatcoil arrester having the circuit-breaker. operating member exterior of said main circuit and in said secondary circuit.

7. The combination, with a main circuit and a secondary alarm circuit, of a reversible circuit-breaker operating member exterior of said main circuit and in said secondary circuit. 1 v

8. The combination, with a main circuit and a secondary alarm circuit, of' aremow able thermal .arrester having the circuitbreaker operating member e'xteriorof said main circuit andin said secondary circuit, said member extending completely through the device whereby the same is reversible after each operation thereof.

9. In combination, an electric circuit, two

cotiperating members joined by fusible material and exterior of said circuit, means for exerting yielding pressure tending to change the relative posit-ions of said members, a resistance in said circuit and in proximity to said fusible material, and a spring contactlocated to be engaged. and opened by movement of one of said members.

10. The combination, with a normally closed main circuit and a normally open secondary alarm circuit, of two cooperating members joined by fusible material and exterior of said main circuit, means for exerting a constantpressure tending tochange' the relative positions of said members, a resistance. in said main circuit in proximity to said fusible material, and a spring contact located to be operated by movement of one of said members to open said main circuit and close said secondary circuit.

11. combination, an electric circuit, two cooperating members joined by fusible material and exterior'of said circuit, one of said members being stationary and the other under spring pressure, a resistance in said air cuit and in proximity to the fusible joint, and a spring contact in said circuit located to beengaged by the-spring-pressed.member when released. v I

12.T he combination, 'with a normally closed fline circuit and a normally open alarm circuit, of two members joined by fusible material in said alarm circuit and extenor of said line circuit, one of said members being stationary and the other under spring-pressure, a resistance in said line circuit in proximity to the fusible joint, and a spring contact in said line circuit located to be engaged by'said spring-pressed memher when released to open said line circuit 7 and close said alarm clrcuit.

13. In combination, an electric circuit, two

cooperating members joined by fusible ma located to be engaged and opened by movement' of one of said members, said resistance and both of said members constituting a detachable device reversible after each operation for a repetition thereof.

14. The combination, with a normally closed main circuit and a normally open secondary alarm circuit, of two cooperating members joined by fusible material and exterior of said main circuit, means for exerting a constant pressure tending to change the relative positions of said members, a resistance in said main circuit in proximityto said fusible material, and a spring contact located to be operated by movement of one of said members to open said main circuit and close said secondary circuit,'said resistance and both of saidmembers constituting a detachable device reversible after each operation for a repetition thereof.

15. In combination, an electric circuit, two

coi'iperating members joined by fusible ma; terial and'exterior of said circuit, one of said members being stationary and the other under spring pressure, a resistance in said circuit and in proximity to the fusible joint, and aspring contact in said circuit located to be engaged by the spring-pressed member when released, said resistance and both of said members constituting a detachable device reversible after each operation for a repetition thereof. I r

16. The combination, with a normally closed line circuit and a normally open alarm circuit, of two members joined by fusible material in said alarm'circuit and exterior of said line circuit, one of said members'being stationary and the other under spring pressure, a resistance in said line circuit in proximity to the fusible joint, and

secured thereto by fusible a spring contact in said line circuit located to be engaged by said spring-pressed member when released to open said line circuit and close said-alarm circuit.

17. A' thermal arrester comprising a sleeve, a pin within said sleeve and normally secured thereto by fusible material, a re sistance in proximity to said sleeve and included in the circuit to be protected, and a circuit controller with means for reversibly receiving the pin and associated parts.

18. A thermal arrester comprising a sleeve, reversible supporting means therefor, a pin within said sleeve having free projecting extremities, said pin being normally secured to said sleeve by fusible material and when released operable in either direction, and a resistance in proximity to said sleeve.

19. The combination with an electric circuit, of a stationary sleeve, an insulated sup,- port for receiving the sleeve, a pin normally secured in one position within said sleeve by fusible material, a, resistance in said cir-.

cuit in proximity to the sleeve, and a circuit-breaking device included in the circuit and controlled by the position of the pin relatively to the sleeve.

20. The combination with an electric cir cuit, of a stationary sleeve, insulating supporting means adapted to receive and hold the sleeve, a spring pressed pin normally secured within said sleevefand fixed thereto by fusible material, said pin extending through and being longer than thesleeve, so as to project therefrom, together with a heat generating resistance in the circuitand surrounding the said sleeve.

21. In combination, a stationary sleeve, insulating supports therefor, a casing with said supports completely inclosing said sleeve, a pin within said sleeve and normally material, and heat-generating resistance in proximity to, said sleeve.

22. The combination with a main circuit and a secondary alarm circuit, of a removable thermal arrester having a body with a heating device included in the main circuit and a circuit breaker operating member in the secondary circuit, said member extendingthrough and being longer than the body of the device and adapted to be moved relatively thereto so that each end will project alternately after successive operations, and will remain in that position upon cooling, whereby the said arrester is reversible.

23. The combination with an electric circuit, of a heat coil arrester comprising the,

following instrumentalities: A sleeve with a heating resistance included directly in the circuit, a pin normally secured rigidly in and to said sleeve by fusible material, pin being longer than the sleeve, means controlling the circuit and normally obstructed said e when the latter are freer-from access to prevent operation bythe conjoined ac tion of pin and, sleeve andperniitted to act each other by undue heat, whereby after the circuit is broken it mayagain be put into operative condition bymercly reversing the arrester.

24 The combination with a spring circuit ,breaker, of a reversible heat coil arrester comprising the tollowing instrumentalities: A casing, an insulated heating member, a sleeve and a pin extending through the sleeve and normally secured thereto by fusible material, said pin being longer than the casing, the arrangement being such that the pin can be'moveclrelatively to the sleeve in. one direction or' the other when released by undue heat, and will retain its changed position after each operation, whereby the same arrester may be used for a number of operations.

251 The Y combination, with a normally closed main circuit and a normally open sec- (150 and oin said secondary circuit, normally sesistance in said main circuit in "to, a spring 40 ondary alarm circuit, of a stationary sleeve, insulating supports therefor, a springpresscd pm exterior of said main circuit and 111 en-id vseco'nclary circuit normally secured within said sleeve by fusible material, a re proximity to suidfusible material, and a spring contact located to be operated by "nicvcmeht of said pin to open said main circuit'and close said secondary circuit, said pin projecting through both of said supports whereby the device is reversible after operation for 'a repetition thereof. v

26. The combination, with an electric circuit, of an insulated-supporting member, a resistance in said circuit in proximity thereressedvoperating member norially semlrcd to saidsupportmg member by,

. fusible material and operable longitudinally;

in either direction, and prlng contact in said circuit in the path or movementofsaid' operating member.

27. T16 combination, closed main circuit and a normally open secondary alarm circuit, of an insulated supporting 'member, a resistance in said circuit in proximity thereto, a spring-pressed operating member exterior of said main circuit with a, normally cured to said supporting member by fusible material and. operable longitudinally there through in either direction, and a spring contactin the path oi movement of said opera-i lug member adapted-to open said main circunt and close saicgsecondary circuit.

28, Incombination, a suitable casing, a sleeve supported therein by insulating terial, a pm extending completely through said sleeve and caein and no mally secured to said sleeve by fuel is m: crial, means for subjecting said pin to yielding pressure, an

.cuit including at least'one of it become rigidly connccted', and the ready for further use atonce,

relectric olrcuit, a spring contact therein and l inthe path of movement of said pin, and a resistance in said circuit in close proximity to said sleeve.

29. The combinsltiomwith an electric cirpair of'spring supports, an icased resistance su) orted therebetvveen and a s :rin contact, of an insulated supporting member in proximity 'to said resistance, and a springpressed member normally secured to 'said supporting member by fusible material and adapted upon release to engage said spring contact. said resistance so 1 ortin member and operating member constitutinga detachable device capable of reversal after each operation for a repetition thereof 30. The combination, with a normally closed circuit including ,at least one of a pair of spring supports, an incased resistance i'emova-bly supported thcrehetween, a sprinp contact, and a normally open secondary a arm circuit, of an insulated supporting member in proximity to said resistance, a spring-pressed member in said alarm circuit normally secured to said supporting member material and adapted u on release 7 toengage said contact to open sai mam cm by fusible removably 4 cuit andclose said secondary circuit, said resistance, supporting member and o crating member constituting a detachable evicecapable of reversal. after each operation for a repetition thereof. I 4

31. A self soldcring heat-coil arrester comprising a body and a central 5 indle non really secured together by .fusilLe material, circuit-closing means engaged respectively by the body and pin 1n operation, said cire cuit closing means permitting cooling of the device in operative conditions liter each ac tuation, whereby the members will again devlce is 32 A heatcoil cartridge comprising a body portion having WILLIAM KAISLING.

lVitnesses:

J. W. Bnmis'rnoir, W. P. Ownrrs,

w a heating conductor: associated tlierevv1th,-pro ect1ng port1ons for spool and adapted 

